Semi-radiolucent patient-specific 3d-printed lattice titanium plate

Abstract

A plate for fixating bone, the plate comprising: a plurality of ribs defining a plurality of openings, wherein a first portion of the plurality of ribs define a lattice structure and a second portion of the plurality of ribs define at least four mounting holes. Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for tailoring a plate for fixating bone. The method can include determining an initial design of the plate. The method can include analyzing radiation through the initial design. The method can include determining, based on analyzed radiation, if dosimetric characteristics are desirable. The method can include analyzing structural strength of the initial design. The method can include determining, based on the analyzed structural strength, if structural strength is sufficient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plate for fixating bone, the plate comprising:
 a plurality of ribs defining a plurality of openings,   wherein a first portion of the plurality of ribs define a lattice structure and a second portion of the plurality of ribs define at least four mounting holes.   
     
     
         2 . The plate of  claim 1 , wherein the plate is formed of a biocompatible material. 
     
     
         3 . The plate of  claim 2 , wherein the biocompatible material comprises a Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy. 
     
     
         4 . The plate of  claim 1 , wherein the plate is formed of titanium. 
     
     
         5 . The plate of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs are configured to allow for radiolucency. 
     
     
         6 . The plate of  claim 1 , wherein the lattice structure comprises at least one of triangles, diamonds, or parallelograms. 
     
     
         7 . The plate of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a membrane configured to encapsulate the plurality of ribs.   
     
     
         8 . The plate of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 collagen configured to encapsulate the plurality of ribs.   
     
     
         9 . The plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the plurality of ribs are inlayed with a radiolucent biocompatible membrane. 
     
     
         10 . The plate of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third portion of the plurality of ribs; and   a fourth portion of the plurality of ribs;   wherein an angle between the third portion of the plurality of ribs and the fourth portion of the plurality of ribs is greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees.   
     
     
         11 . A method for tailoring a plate for fixating bone, the method comprising:
 determining an initial design of the plate;   analyzing radiation through the initial design;   determining, based on analyzed radiation, if dosimetric characteristics are desirable;   analyzing structural strength of the initial design;   determining, based on the analyzed structural strength, if structural strength is sufficient;   altering, responsive to determining at least one of the dosimetric characteristics being undesirable or the structural strength being insufficient, the initial design to result in an altered design; and   fabricating, responsive to determining that the dosimetric characteristics are desirable and the structural strength is sufficient, the plate.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein fabricating the plate comprises:
 fabricating the plate via a 3D printing method.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plate is formed of a biocompatible material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the biocompatible material comprises Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein analyzing radiation through the initial design comprises analyzing radiation through the initial design via a Monte Carlo simulation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein analyzing the structural strength of the initial design comprisies analyzing the structural strength of the initial design via finite element analysis. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plate comprises a plurality of ribs defining a lattice structure. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 encapsulating the plurality of ribs with collagen.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 inlaying the plurality of ribs with a radiolucent biocompatible membrane.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the initial design comprises a first amount of material and the altered design comprises a second amount of material, the second amount of material less than the first amount of material.